Michael Healy-Rae
Question:246. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding passports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28086/15]
View answerThursday, 9 July 2015
Questions (246)
Written answers
In the past five years over 630,000 passports have been issued annually by the Passport Service. Demand is currently up 4.5% over of the same period last year, meaning we are currently on track to issue 655,000 passports this year. Queries received by the Department through the dedicated channel of communication for Oireachtas representatives are dealt with without delay. When the Passport Service is notified by an Oireachtas member of the need to issue a passport in a situation of genuine urgency or emergency, such as death or serious injury or illness abroad of a close relative or a medical emergency relating to the applicant him/herself, a passport is issued as soon as possible. Due to the short time frame between receipt of the information concerning the emergency and issuance of the passport it is often not feasible to give an interim update to the Oireachtas Member.